Knowledge for Development

S&T Organisations / Web resources


The International Dairy Federation launches common carbon footprint methodology for global dairy sector

As part of the dairy sector’s action agenda on climate change, the International Dairy Federation (IDF) has now published ‘A Common Carbon Footprint Approach for Dairy – The IDF Guide to Standard Lifecycle Assessment Methodology for the Dairy Sector’. This new methodology, based on the best available science and current international standards, will allow stakeholders in the dairy sector worldwide to produce consistent and comparable data and set comparable benchmarks for measuring their carbon footprint. Such robust measurement will enable effective management and reduction of greenhouse gases emissions within the sector. The International Dairy Federation (IDF) is a science-based, non-profit private sector organization, which represents the dairy sector worldwide. It aims to identify and disseminate best practice at the international level, in order to guide and harmonize members’ work on issues including climate change, nutrition and food hygiene. It was founded in 1903 and is represented in 53 countries. Its membership accounts for approximately 85% of the world’s total milk production.(Source: IDF website, November 2010)

17/02/2011


CTA-University of Zambia ASTI system case study report: Dairy industry in Zambia

This case study aimed at assessing the status of the dairy sub sector in Zambia using an innovation system approach. Efforts made by the Zambian government to nationalise milk production by favouring local producers through subsidies and price control, saw the departure of foreign producers from the Zambian dairy sector. Since then, the country has been producing milk below its optimum capacity. The significant absence of extension services despite efforts by NGOs to train farmers in dairy management is identified as one of the factors adversely affecting the sector. Recommendations for improving the industry include: (1) improving information sharing and interaction among stakeholders to meet set goals and objectives; (2) establishment of dairy breeding centres; (3) review of extension services and the privatization of the veterinary services; (4) reinforcement of capacity building programmes through training in dairy management techniques; (5) promoting the cultivation of pasture and fodder crops for dairy animals; (6) increasing funding to research institutions and (7) development of innovative dairy products to increase milk consumption in Zambia.

1/05/2012


CTA - Supporting Dairy Sector Development

CTA recently identified a team of consultants to lead a project to review established practice and assess opportunities to improve the reproductive performance of smallholder dairy cows in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. This also includes a technical and economic feasibility of oestrus synchronization in smallholder dairy cows kept under Ethiopian conditions. The lead consultant, Dr Alastair Gavin Paterson, and his assistant Mr. Louis le Roex of Paterson Agri-Services, South Africa were chosen for the assignment. The project includes two lots (Lot A and Lot B).Lot A: Opportunities to improve the reproductive performance of smallholder dairy cows in Africa.Lot B: Technical and Economic Evaluation of Oestrus synchronization in Ethiopia.Professor Arthur Lishman, a top reproductive physiologist in South Africa is also an advisor to the consulting group. Given the extensive knowledge of the team on reproductive physiology and the realities of the dairy sector in Africa, CTA is confident that this project will contribute to improving the performance of smallholder dairy cows and the wider dairy industry in sub-Saharan Africa as well as provide lessons for policy and practice in the wider ACP region.Click the link below to read the original call

28/08/2012


Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute

This site offers a series of factsheets are available: calf care from birth to weaning,  a guide to good milking management heat detection for improved breeding management, do you know when your cow is in heat?, Johne’s disease – what you need to know, macro-mineral requirements of cattle, Trace minerals for cattle and Vitamins A, D and E for cattle.   

20/10/2014


DairyNZ Technical Tools

DairyNZ, a New-Zealand-based organisation, invests in productivity (feed, animals and farm systems); sustainability (environmental management, biosecurity, animal welfare and community impact); and people and business (farm business and human capability). Its technical series provides information on innovations in dairy genetics, molecular techniques. Other resources include InCalf, a learning package of tools, resources relating to cattle reproduction.   

20/10/2014


Dairy Herd Management

This US website covers practical aspects of dairy herd management. Its resources section details new technology, reproduction and nutrition, and provide news stories on new developments in these areas.    

20/10/2014


Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council

The Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) is an organisation focused on raising awareness of issues critical to reproductive performance, through delivering information on technology and resources. The Council’s members are dairy industry professionals (researchers and consultants, practitioners and producers), engaged in a collaborative effort to improve cattle reproduction technology. The website provides access to dairy reproduction protocols, information on fertility, genetics, reproduction technology, and access to the DCRC’s Annual Meeting proceedings and presentations.   

20/10/2014


Dairy Science and Food Technology

The Dairy Science and Food Technology (DSFT) website provides scientific and technological information, cloud-based tools and consultancy services for food scientists and technologists working in industry and in colleges and universities. A discussion forum and interactive content through online calculators are also provided. Writing/citation resources including a Harvard-type reference wizard and a range of citation-wizards can also be accessed. There are sections on starter cultures, probiotics, cheese science and technology, bioactive peptides, ice cream, wine making, modelling in food technology, thermal processing and modified atmosphere packaging and labelling. Some general health information including reference to allergy and food intolerance is also presented.

20/10/2014


The Cattle Site

This website features news, articles and market reports on all aspects of cattle production including the dairy industry and the potential for innovation. A knowledge centre provides technical information, while a directory and events diary allow contact with dairy experts.    

20/10/2014


Seas Of Change: Dairy Fact Sheet

This site examines dairy production worldwide. Small dairy cooperatives are growing rapidly in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa, to provide raw milk to private dairy plants. Experience in Asia shows that scaling up dairy production in developing countries should involve sector growth including smallholders, through the development of an enabling environment and with buy-in from the private sector. In general, upscaling dairy processing in developing countries would benefit from a forward-looking strategy for national dairy production that focusses on improving the competitiveness of production and processing as well as preventing the concentration of a few large companies that would control the whole sector.   

20/10/2014


Department of the Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia - Innovation doubles milk production

Innovation throughout the dairy industry has helped it boost production and increase returns to farmers. Dairy has remained as one of Australia's and Victoria's biggest primary industries over the last 30 years. Overall, increases in on-farm production have increased dairy farmers' returns by $10 billion over the past three decades in present-value terms. Australian farmers have been able to double milk production despite challenging financial and climatic conditions. Research, development and extension (RD&E) has been a major contributor, particularly in pasture management, supplementary feeding and cow genetics. Every dollar of the combined investment by industry and government of $2 billion, has given a benefit of at least $3.30. Farmer's return on investment for RD&E is therefore many times this amount.   

20/10/2014


CORAF/WECARD: Improving Productivity & Competitiveness of Sub-sector in West and Central Africa

The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) notes that an appropriately organised dairy subsector could contribute to the GDP of Sahelian countries of West and Central Africa, thus lifting the producers out of poverty. This project targets adaptation of technologies and innovations for increased production by smallholders in the dairy subsector value chain in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger, Senegal and Chad. The network of national research institutions and producer organisations participating in this project will benefit from the new techniques in milk production, storage, processing and marketing. Women’s groups in dairy processing will benefit from less labour-intensive production systems. Dairy products traders and consumers will benefit from more hygienic and quality-enhanced dairy products.   

20/10/2014


ILRI - 'Dairy Genetics East Africa' project

Phase I of the project (2010-2013) identified the best genotypes for dairy production systems and production operated by small-holder farmers in East Africa, and how these genotypes can be delivered to small-holders. The project partners will apply high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism technology to determine breed composition of cows owned by smallholders, and combine this with traditional and participatory appraisal of animal and farm performance to determine which genotypes are most profitable at different levels of production. The potential value of importing, testing and delivery of genotypes from elsewhere will be assessed. A partnership will be formed to implement delivery of germplasm in a Phase II project and beyond.    

20/10/2014


Feed The Future: UdderCheck

Feed The Future’s Partnering for Innovation project is working with PortaScience, Inc. to improve incomes for smallholder dairy farmers in Rwanda with an inexpensive and easy-to-use udder infection detection technology called UdderCheck™. The dipstick allows farmers to detect mastitis infection early and reduces the extreme losses in milk that result from late-stage infection. When dipped into fresh milk, UdderCheck detects an enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is present when cells are damaged due to infection. In two minutes, the strip will change colours to indicate moderate, high, and very high levels of LDH.   

20/10/2014


East African Dairy Development Project

The East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) programme is designed to boost the milk yields and incomes of small-scale farmers in Africa. In its first five years, EADD provided extensive training on dairy husbandry, business practices and operation, and marketing of dairy products to the 179,000 farming families. Heifer and its partners also developed 27 milk collection hubs, strengthened 10 existing hubs, and formed 68 farmer business associations to manage the plants. With $25.5 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the second phase of EADD will work with more than 200,000 farmers to improve dairy production and access to markets over the next four years.    

20/10/2014


Progressive Dairyman

This website is a resource giving information on new developments in herd health, feed & nutrition, artificial insemination and breeding, new technology, management, calf and heifer raising, cow comfort and manure. Its aim is to cover all aspects of dairy and forage production and management. It combines current news and events, market reports and industry trends with dairy management and production articles.   

20/10/2014


USDairy.com

USDairy.com provides information on dairy health and wellness, sustainability, trends and initiatives, and science and research. It works with the Dairy Research Institute, a non-profit organisation created to strengthen the industry’s technical research. The Institute works with industry, academic, government and commercial partners to drive pre-competitive insights in nutrition, products and sustainability on behalf of the Innovation Center for US Dairy and National Dairy Council. The former is a forum for the dairy industry to work pre-competitively to address barriers to and opportunities for innovation and sales growth.    

20/10/2014


Global Dairy Innovation

This site, supported by Elanco, supplies information about recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST), the genetically engineered hormone used to boost milk production, with a particular focus on its safety for general use in the dairy industry.

20/10/2014


International Dairy Federation

The International Dairy Federation (IDF) represents the global dairy sector and ensures the best scientific expertise is used to support high-quality milk and nutritious, safe and sustainable dairy products. The organisation is focused on furthering current knowledge on a wide range of issues, including environment and sustainable development, health and nutrition, methods of analysis, farm management, animal health and welfare, dairy science and technology, food hygiene and safety, food standards, dairy policies and economics and marketing.

20/10/2014


Dairy Gateway

Dairy Gateway is a neutral platform that provides a wide range of material about milk production and products in developing countries. The Gateway allows users to share informationvideo and picture stories, and experiences. It links to key publications, news, upcoming events, and gives details on milk production, processes and products, training materials and statistics.     

20/10/2014